Achilles Tendon Injury
Symptoms associated with achilles injuries include:
- pain and stiffness in the region upon rising in the morning
- pain diminishes after walking about and heating (warm shower)
- reoccurs after several hours of activity especially running, tennis, football and dancing
There are three common injuries which present around the achilles tendon:
- Achilles Tendinitis (achilles tendon inflammation)
- Achilles Tendinosis (achilles tendon degeneration)
- Retrocalneal Bursitis
Achilles Tendinitis
Achilles Tendinitis is characterized by acute inflammation. The tendon often becomes thickened, swollen and sometimes tender palpable nodules. It is a chronic problem which develops over a long period and can be very difficult to settle down. Symptoms usually include stiffness behind the heel or ankle when rising in the morning. With Achilles Tendinopathy the tendon usually warms up with exercise only to become stiff and painful afterwards. When seen under the microscope, inflammatory conditions have specific cells that the body brings to that area of the body to help control the inflammation and heal the injured tendon
Achilles Tendinosis
Achilles tendinosis or achilles tendonopathy is the progressed stage of chronic achilles tendinitis that is not characterized by inflammation. Rather, these patients have scarring thickening and/or microtear breakdown of the tendon. There is usually no redness or warmth of the surrounding tissue, although the area can be painful to touch. The make up of the tendon has completely changed and this is the harder of the two resolve.
Retrocalcaneal bursitis
Retrocalcaneal bursitis refers to inflammation within the lubricating fluid like sac, which lies between the achilles tendon and the heel bone. It is highly likely that there is the presence of a Hagluand’s Deformity which is a prominent bony bump on the outside-top border of the back of the heel.
At Heel Pain Clinics of Adelaide we have our Don’t Let Achilles Be Your Heel system which treats the underlying factors which lead to stress and strain of the achilles tendon.
The don’t let achilles be your heel system comprises of three components:
- 3 step achilles pain relief regime
- Extracorporal shockwave therapy
Addressing your biomechanics walking/running pattern